Is it on Contingency Fee?

Posted by Kristen White
8
Dec 6, 2019
249 Views
When considering assistance in legal matters one of the main things an individual may worry about is how much it will cost them to retain legal services. A common term used when referring to paying for legal services is the term contingency fee. This article will discuss what a contingency fee is and what it entails.
 
According to the Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute  a contingency fee is “a payment arrangement between a lawyer and a client. In a contingent fee arrangement the client pays no fee if her claim is not successful, but if her claim is successful, she pays the lawyer a set share of the judgment or settlement amount often up to a third.” Basically, a contingency is a designated amount of money that a client agrees to pay a lawyer conditioned or contingent upon the lawyer providing a favorable outcome in the case. In the event that the lawyer wins their lawsuit or is provided with the settlement, the lawyer receives the agreed-upon fee from the award. However, it must be noted that special rules must apply for the contingency fee agreement to be entered into and what it involves.
 
The general process goes in the manner that the  provides legal services in a case for free unless the client is awarded money. If the client loses the case, the fee is not usually paid. Payment is conditioned upon a successful resolution of the case for the client. If the client receives the award through settlement or a verdict the car accident property damage lawyer  receives the agreed-upon fee. Usually the lawyer receives his or her funds upfront before issuing the client the remainder of the award.
 
Because the fee of a depends solely upon receiving a monetary award it is usually used in cases where money damages are awarded such as personal injury cases or workers’ compensation. The contingency fee arrangement is an important part of the judicial system as it allows people who may not have adequate funds to retain an attorney to have access to justice.
 
In many states caps have been put on the contingency fee amount agreement that can be made between a lawyer and client. In most cases the fee is kept at one third of the award. It must be noted that in some cases there are rules that prohibit lawyers from taking contingent fees as it is deemed unethical. For example, the Professional Rules of Conduct  may prohibit taking a child support case on a contingency fee basis because it may work against the interest of the child.
 
It is important to realize that the contingency fee generally only covers the fees and no other related litigation expenses. As such the plaintiff may still have to pay for other costs associated with litigation. Some of these costs include the following:
 
Filing costs
Copying costs
Expert witness fees
Deposition costs
 
It is important to have an understanding as to who is responsible for the payment before incurring the additional costs. However, this information is often included in the legal services agreement. If you are looking for Ak compensation lawyers  contact a law firm of renowned professionals.
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